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Single polls about same-sex marriages (SSM) & civil unions

From 1996 until 1998

Single polls:

1996-MAR: The Gallup Organization found that 68% of American adults
opposed gay marriages; 27% were in favor.

1996-JUN: An American public opinion poll was taken in by ICR
Survey Research Group of Media, PA. Results are correct within ±3 percentage points, 19
times out of 20.

Group

Opposed

In favor

Overall results

57%

30%

Females responded

49%

Persons under 35

47%

47%

1996-SEP:Women in Technology International (WITI) is an "association
of 6,000 women, 95% of whom are professional women working in technology organizations."
One would expect that the would have a high approval rating of same-sex marriages because
they are women and because most women in technology organizations are young. "...for
example, the number of undergraduate EE degrees earned by women has leaped nearly 10-fold
over the past two decades." The poll results from their membership were not
surprising:

Group

Opposed

In favor

WITI members

18%

80%

1997-APR-19: A a telephone poll in Oregon found that only 37% of
adults favored passing a bill that prohibited same-sex marriages; 56% opposed the bill.

1997: A variety of polls indicated that women are about evenly divided
on whether gays and lesbians should be given equal access marriage. Americans of both
genders under the age of 35 are also evenly matched. A minority of registered voters in
the US say that they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who support gay rights,
including gay marriage.

1998-JUL: Princeton Survey Research Associates conducted a
telephone poll for Newsweek magazine on 1998-JUL-28 to 31. Involved were 602
randomly selected adults for the "overall population" responses and 502 randomly
selected gay men and lesbians for the "gay" responses. Margin of error is 4 and
5%, 19 times out of 20.

Question

Overall response

Gay/Lesbian response

Approve of legally sanctioned gay marriage

33%

Legal gay marriage is 'very' or 'somewhat' important

85%

Gays should be allowed to adopt children

36%

Adoption rights for gays are 'very' or 'somewhat' important

90%

The magazine reported that young adults (ages 18-29 ) were "significantly more
accepting of gay marriage" than people over 30. And baby boomers were more
accepting than people over 50. 1

Sponsored link:

1998-OCT: The Honolulu Star-Bulletin and NBC Hawaii conducted two
polls during the weeks before a referendum on same-sex marriages. The referendum gave the
Hawaii Legislature the power to reserve marriage to opposite sex couples.

Group

Opposed

In favor

1999-OCT-16/19

25%

62%

1999-OCT-28/29

55%

35%

1999-NOV-5 (Final vote)

69%

29%

The polling company, Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research Inc., attributed the
flip-flop to the confusion over the wording of the referendum. Those opposing same-sex
marriages were to vote "yes;" those in favor were to vote "no."2

References:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still accessible today.